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FREEDOM OF INFORMATION REQUEST REFERENCE NO: 355-2023
I write in connection with your request for information which was received on 3rd April 2023 as follows:
Please treat this as a request under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) and provide the following information in relation to your pre-employment applicant and post-employment employee vetting processes:
Q1. What is the vetting process for people when initially joining your force? Please provide documentation.
Q2. What is your process for checking the identity of people applying to join the force? Please provide documentation.
Q3. Please confirm whether applicants are subjected to biometric vetting (fingerprints and DNA).
Q4. The College of Policing APP on Vetting refers to 'checkable history': please specify the history of an applicant that is checked in vetting by your force.
Q5. What is the vetting process that you operate for officers and staff transferring to your force from another police force? Please provide copy of documentation setting out the process.
Q6. What is the vetting process for officers and staff transferring within your force to a different role? Please provide copy of documentation setting out the process.
Q7. What is your process or procedure for vetting of transgender people? Please provide documentation setting out the process/procedure.
Q8. How often is vetting clearance reviewed/renewed in your force?
Q9. What is the process for reviewing/renewing vetting for officers and staff. Please provide copy of documentation setting out the process.
Please find the Warwickshire Police response set out below.
Response: The College of Policing has produced Authorised Professional Practice (APP), and a Code of Practice specifically in relation to vetting. These documents contain all of the information necessary to understand the basis upon which decisions around vetting are made. Warwickshire Police Vetting Unit operate under the direction of – and in compliance with – both the Code and the APP.
Both documents can be located at the below links.
APP on Vetting (college.police.uk)
C553I0117-Vetting-Code-of-Practice-online-04.10.17.pdf (college.police.uk)
Where information within these documents answers all or part of the questions below, an exemption by virtue of Section 21 of the Freedom of Information Act – ‘Information Reasonably Accessible by Other Means’ will apply.
Q1 response: Section 3.2, section 6 (force vetting levels), and section 10 (vetting forms and templates) of the APP Vetting refers.
Q2 response: Section 7.1 & 7.2 of the APP vetting refers. The business area has also advised that the recruitment department would verify that the ID is valid.
Q3 response: Section 7.23 of the APP Vetting refers. In addition, the force Recruitment and Selection Policy states:
For the purposes of identifying contamination at a crime scene, or in the physical evidential chain, Regulation 10A of the 2003 Police Regulations, Regulation 1ZA of the Special Constables Regulations 1965 and Police Staff Council Circular 96 confirm that prospective police officers, relevant police staff and special constables will be required to provide DNA samples to generate a DNA profile for inclusion on the Contamination Elimination Database.
Q4 response: The business area has advised that this relates to the residency criteria. Further information can be located in section 7.5 to 7.6.7 of the APP.
Q5 response: Section 8.52 and 8.53 of the APP Vetting refers. In addition, the business area has advised that transferees receive the same vetting as new recruits, as per Q1. Additional enquiries will also be completed with all police forces that the transferee has worked for to obtain any relevant information.
Q6 response: Section 8.52.1 of the APP Vetting refers. In addition, the business area has advised that where an individual moves to a new role, a review of their vetting will be conducted to ensure they are suitable. Persons moving from Recruitment Vetting to Management Vetting roles will be fully re-vetted.
Q7 response: Section 4.2 of the APP Vetting refers.
Q8 response: MV is issued for 7 years with annual reviews and a full re-vet at year 7, in line with the College of Policing’s Authorised Professional practice for Vetting (Vetting APP)
RV is issued for 9 years with reviews at 3 and 6 years and a full re-vet at year 9. The Vetting App states RV can be valid for 10 years; however, Warwickshire Police issue RV clearance for 9 years with 2 reviews. This allows us to work within the guidance of the Vetting APP whilst also potentially reducing any risk within our organisation.
Additionally, where an individual moves to a new role, a review of their vetting will be conducted to ensure they are suitable for that role. Individuals moving from RV to MV roles will be fully re-vetted.
I can also advise that officers and staff will receive a review of their vetting clearance following disciplinary proceedings of Written Warning or above, as per the HMIC recommendations.
Section 8.49 of the APP Vetting also refers.
Q9 response: The relevant digital review/renewal form will be sent to the individual via our online portal.
Every effort has been made to ensure that the information provided is as accurate as possible.
Your attention is drawn to the below which details your right of complaint.
Should you have any further enquiries concerning this matter, please write or email the Freedom of Information Unit quoting the reference number above.
Yours sincerely
Freedom of Information Officer
Freedom of Information Unit
Warwickshire Police
PO Box 4
Leek Wootton
Warwickshire
CV35 7QB